What are bearing pads and why are they installed on bridges and metro lines? The repeated fall of bearing pads from Dhaka’s metro line -- twice within five weeks -- has stirred widespread curiosity about what they are and how they function. On Sunday, a pedestrian died after being hit by a bearing pad that fell from the Dhaka Metro Rail line in Farmgate. Used in bridges and flyovers to absorb vibration, elastomeric bearing pads are made from neoprene or natural rubber and are installed between the pier and viaduct joints. Kamrul Hasan, an engineer at the Roads and Highways Department, explained: “These rubber pads are used to create elasticity between a bridge’s pier and girder.

Source: bd News24 October 26, 2025 12:15 UTC